white elephant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lord Forsyth described the project as "a complete white elephant and a disaster" and Leader of the House Baroness Smith of Basildon called the situation "unacceptable".
From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025
According to Buddhist lore, when she conceived, the queen dreamed that an auspicious white elephant entered her womb.
From Seattle Times • May 11, 2024
But the aging ship has in recent years become more of a white elephant in need of millions of dollars in repairs just to stay afloat.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024
In 2002 Lorn - by then a student in Glasgow - found a small white elephant in a gift shop and sent it to her granny for Christmas.
From BBC • Dec. 27, 2023
On the page, red diamond-covered trailers passed by first, and each one advertised its contents: roaring lions and tigers, charging rhinos and furious hippos, and a majestic white elephant at the very end.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
